3 things that prevent people from giving and deprive them of the greatest pleasure
Miserliness of the soul is worse than miserliness of the pockets. Beware of being of this category on the Day of Judgment
Surah Al-Ma’un is an alarm bell for those oblivious to the reality and meaning of prayer
Good lasts longer than its owner. Things that you should not deprive yourself of their good after your death
Dr. Amr Khaled, the Islamic preacher, emphasized the significance of giving, which is not limited to money but extends to all aspects of good; including kind words, a smile, healing hearts, calling to God, guiding people, contributing to reform on Earth, comforting, fulfilling needs, feeding the hungry, caring for orphans, and assisting the poor.
In the eleventh episode of his Ramadan program "Guide - A Journey with the Quran," he mentioned that good is mentioned in the Quran 188 times, emphasizing its importance and that it is stronger and more lasting than evil. He explained that charity is so called because it is a testament to your true belief in God, and the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, would give charity when they were poor.
Khaled encouraged abundant charity especially during the month of Ramadan, following the example of the Prophet, peace be upon him. According to Ibn Abbas, may God be pleased with them, "The Prophet, peace be upon him, was the most generous of people, and he was most generous during Ramadan, as the Prophet, peace be upon him, was more generous with good than the freed wind."
Surah Al-Kawthar.. Good is stronger than evil and more lasting
Khaled highlighted 4 Surahs in the Quran that fill the heart with love for good and giving, which are: (Al-Kawthar–Al-Ma’un–Al-Balad–Al-Fajr).
He mentioned that Surah Al-Kawthar was revealed when Al-As bin Wa’il taunted the Prophet, peace be upon him, saying that whenever he had a son, he would die, thus calling him 'Abtar'; meaning cut off from posterity. He pointed out that Al-Kawthar is a river from the rivers of Paradise, and God has promised it to His believing servants in proportion to the good they do in this world.
He explained that the path to Al-Kawthar begins with prayer: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice"; it is the strongest incentive to spread good, and God chose sacrifice as a symbol for doing good, for the most beloved good to God is feeding food. The intended meaning is: You think that multiplying wealth and children guarantees you eternity, and you taunt Muhammad for having no son 'indeed, your enemy is the one cut off.'
Surat Al-Ma'un and denying the reality of religion
Khaled went on to speak about Surah Al-Ma'un, saying that it discusses denying the reality of the religion when religiosity does not transform into good, mercy, and sincerity, when a person believes in the religion with his tongue but denies it with his behavior and actions, leading to a gap between faith and ethics, including: "So woe to those who pray, who are heedless of their prayers"; it commands linking prayer with reformative and charitable work and encourages feeding the needy.
Surah Al-Balad and overcoming obstacles that prevent good
He described Surah Al-Balad as not only about giving but as a psychological and spiritual journey to free a person from selfishness, and it urges overcoming obstacles to do so, which are:
-"Freeing a slave" (liberating a human): prisoners in jails due to debts, freeing a person from debt, injustice, a problem.
- "Or feeding on a day of severe hunger": a day of famine.
- "A kinship orphan", look for the poor within your family and assist them.
- "Or a poor man covered in dust": dusty from extreme poverty.
Khaled described the reward for overcoming these obstacles as ensuring heaven from God: "Then he was among those who believed and advised each other to patience and advised each other to mercy, those are the companions of the right hand," explaining why it's named "Surah Al-Balad", that good is not just theoretical talk, and it must be implemented in the country you live in, among relatives, people, neighbors.
Surah Al-Fajr.. A Journey from Selfishness to Humanity and Giving
In the context of his discussion on Surah Al-Fajr, Khaled described it as a journey from selfishness to humanity and giving, and the central verse in it: "But when He tests him by restricting his provision, he says, 'My Lord has humiliated me.'"
He said that these verses include a profound psychological analysis of human personality; as it measures its value by what it possesses, if God enriches him, he says: I am honored by God, and if God restricts his provision, he says: God hates me, which he saw as reflecting a defect when a person sees wealth and money as honor, and poverty as humiliation.
Psychological diseases that prevent good
Khaled pointed out that the value of a person in God's eyes is not in money, but in doing good, indicating that the verses diagnose four psychological diseases that prevent a person from loving the good, which are:
-"Yet you do not honor the orphan": lack of sensitivity towards orphans in society or the family or animals.
- nor encourage one another to feed the poor: not feeding the needy.
- "And you consume inheritance, consuming it altogether": greed for inheritance.
- "And you love wealth with immense love": pathological love of money.
He explained that Surat Al-Fajr is named as such, to be the dawn of a new person transitioning from "selfishness" to "the reassured soul".
Watch the episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBsz9zL27yI
